So glad I have an iPod...

From Signal vs. Noise

A virus on Windows

I don't really understand why Windows is so complicated that it can be hacked and broken so easily...

Beginning HCI

This week I began 10 weeks of Human-Computer Interaction as part of my degree in Human Centred Computer Systems. I found the topics that we discussed eye-opening in how we take for granted all of the contact we have with technology on a daily basis. And how it often seems that the desingers don't take into account who will be using the product in the final instance and how they will use it - aesthetics (and marketing tactics) often pay a much larger part in the final appearance and function of a product.

I also hadn't appreciated that I'm not the model person that products are designed for - I'm a lot more comfortable with using technology than most people. Watching my friend use the internet to look for a particular poem was quite shocking to me. A lot of the sites were horrifically designed, but where I would scan and know where to look for the information I needed, she would get flustered and click on any link with any relevance, mostly adverts. Even the way she used Google was totally different to me, putting in urls and serach terms that were not helpful to getting results.

So one thing I hope to develop over this course if the ability to remove myself from the situation, and to consider things from the actual users point of view.